Stamp and envelop moistener.



B. Ev EDWARDS.

STAMP AND ENVflOP MOISTENEYR.

APPLICATION FILED 056.15. Isle.

Patented A r; 17, 1917.

IBEULAH E. EDWARDS,.OF LISGOMB, IOWA.

STAMP AND ENVELOP MOISTENEIRI.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 17, 1917.

Application illed December 15,1916. Serial No. 187,206.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, BEULAH E. EDWARDS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Liscomb,in the county of Marshall and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stamp and Envelop Moisteners, of which the following is a specification. a

Myinvention relates to new and. useful improvements in devices for moistening stamps, envelops and the like, the primary object of my invention being the provision of a device in which aliquid container is supported by a hinged arm so that it may be swungto inverted position to discharge a predetermined quantity of its'contents upon the article to be'inoistened.

In this connection, one of the primary objects of my invention consists in providing the liquid container with a discharge spout and nozzle which will govern the quantity of liquid discharged and which is provided with aclosure orcap which will prevent loss from evaporation when the device is not in use.

A still further object of my invention consists in" providing means for yieldably supporting the container-in spaced relation to the base in either active or inactive position.

Another object which Ihave in view'is the provision of a supplemental moisten-ing device inj'the form of a pad which may receive moisture from the container andwhich may then be employed for moistening'relatively large areas,such as the gummed surface of envelops, wrappers and the like. 1 With these and other objects in view, my invention will be more fully described, illustratedin the accompanying drawings, and then specifically pointed out'in the claims whichare attached to and form a part of this application.

In the-drawings:

Figure l-is aside elevation of my stamp moistening device;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view;

Fig. 3 is afragmentary sectional view, showlng the container spout and its nozzle;

Fig. gis a fragmentary perspective view, showing the additional moistenmg device in cooperative arrangemeritwith the nozzle or spout of the container.

Gorresponding' and'like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

My invention, broadly, consists in a liquid container 10 mounted ,HPOII a hinged supporting'member ll'which is swingingly carried by a base .12. More'specifically, the base 12, which is preferably substantially rectangular in shape, is formed of wood,

iron or other material having sufficient weight to prevent accidental displacement of the device up on a desk or table and at one cnd'carries a table or platform 13 which may also be of wood or metal, as preferred. The supporting arm or bracket 11 is hinged to the inner end'cf the table, as shown at 14, and at its outer end is provided with a latorally directed arm 15 which engages against the outer wall of the container and serves as a me HIS for attachment thereto. The container, the shape of which is best shown in Fig. 2, has a flat bottom 16 and-is provided with a reduced outwardly and upwardly extending arcuate spout portion 17 having a squaro terminal 18 which is open "and which constitutes a discharge spout.

The container is secured to the bracket arm 11 by rivets (r other suitable fastening means 19 in su 3h a manner that its spout portion is most remote from the hin e 14 and is formed LII its bottom with a lling opening 20 which may be closed by a stopper 21, of'cork, rubber or other suitable material. The out r end of the opening 20 may be flared, as at 22, to facilitate filling.

A ring or band 23, of somesuitable noncorrosive "metal such as aluminum, is secured about the end of the spout, projecting beyond such end and being formed with an inwardly directed supporting shoulder 24 so that a nozzle plate 25 may besecured therewith. This nozzle'plate is provided with a plurality of uniformly distributed a minute openings 26 through which the contents of the containermay pass when the container'is in inverted position, as shown in dotted lines at the left of Fig. 1.

A leaf spring 27 is secured at one end to the bottom ofvzhe' container, as shown at 28, adjacent the lower end ofthe handle 20 and atits other end freely engages against the under face cf the bracket or supporting arm-1.1 so that the spring may 'serve as a. cushion to prevent injury to the container whenit is 'swung to the position shownrin dotted lines at the right in Fig. 1. When the container is 188d, it is swung to the pos'i tion shown in dotted lines at the left in this same figure and, for a reason which will be later apparent, a helical spring 29 is fixed to the table 13 to engage the supporting arm 11 and act to hold the container with its nozzle in spaced relation to the outer end of the table.

In use, assuming that the container is filled with water, a stamp to be moistened,

or that portion of the envelop to which the stamp is to be applied, is positioned upon the table in such a manner that when the container is swung to the position shown in dotted lines at the left in Fig. 1, its nozzle band 23 will encircle the stamp or envelop surface; This position may be readily de termined by suitable rulings upon the up er face of the table 13. When the stamp as been so positioned, the container is swung about the hinge 14 as a center, the spring 27 furnishing a convenient handle for accomplishing this, and is then forced downwardly against the action of the spring 29 to bring the nozzle ring in engagement with the table, as shown in Fig. 8. After suflicient water has passed through the nozzle onto the stamp, the container may be released when the spring 29 will elevate it as shown in full lines in Fig. 1 to such an extent -as to permit the withdrawal of the stamp or envelop and also prevent further passage of water to the nozzle. If no more stamps or envelops are to be moistened, the

the container when the device is not iii to prevent evaporation of water from the container. At this point it should beno'ted that the nozzle of the container is referably of the shape and dimensions oft e stamps to lie-moistened. I

In many instances, it is necessary to moisten a considerable surface, as in sealing envelops, packages and the like, and for this purpose I provide a pad 32, of absorbent material, capable of fitting within the nozzle band '23 and provided with a wire handle saterin'inating in a loop 34 by means of which the pad or s onge may be conveniently manipulated. this pad isto be employed, it is positioned upon the table in the same manner as a stamp would be and the container is swung into position to discharge water upon it.

Although I have illustrated and described my invention in all its details, it will of course 1. A device of the character described ineluding a hinged supporting member, a container carried by the free end of the memher and adapted in one position of the member to be disposed in an upright position and in another in an inverted position, and a nozzle controlling passage of fluid from the container when in inverted position, said nozzle including a perforate member positioned across the discharge opening of the container, and a retaining band engaging about the container and having a shoulder engaging the perforate member.

2. A device of the character described, a sup orting base, an arm hinged to the interme iate portion of the base, a container fixed to the free end of the arm, a spring secured to the container and resting against the arm'to cushion the arm from the base, and resilient means for holding the arm in position to space the container above the base when the arm is swung to invert the at one end near the center of the base, a

semisph'erical container having a closed fiat bottom secured to the free end of the arm,

the container having a curved spout, a discharge nozzle controlling passage of fluid through the spout, said nozzle including a band projecting beyond the spent, a perforate member engaging the end of the spout and encircled by the band, anda pad of absorbent material capable of seating within the band and against the perforate member. r

In testimony'whereof I'afllx my signature.

' Brutl'n a. EDWARDfi a. a]

em of this intent may be obtaineu tor the ma each; by elm-easing the "Commissioner in intents.

' mosa. ea 

